South Carolina Business Week is held each July at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. South Carolina Business Week’s mission is to contribute to the preparation of young adults for the business environment by introducing them to the principles of leadership, teamwork and the American free enterprise system while promoting self-reliance, individual responsibility and entrepreneurship.

My South Carolina Business Week journey began during the summer of my freshman year in high school and I have attended every summer since, through senior year. The program pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and step into leadership roles. Business Week events like spirit night challenge attendees to work together and create a skit that shows their company spirit. This will forever be my most favorite part of Business Week because it pushes every person out of their comfort zone and allows students to work together. This summer, since I was no longer eligible to attend the program as a student, I was thankful to receive an invitation back as a ACA (Assistant Company Advisor). When compared to being a student, being an ACA is a very different yet rewarding experience. As an ACA I began to see all the hard and tireless work that is poured into Business Week to make it a success. From putting numerous pounds of ice into coolers, to preparing 180+ diploma plaques for graduation, these are just a few things that ACA’s work on behind the scenes that students will never see.Lastly, as an ACA I interacted with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce staff and multiple business professionals from across the state. This interaction provided ways for me to network and gain insight on various career fields. I thank AKPsi for equipping me with several essential networking tools that helped me maneuver through these networking conversations smoothly. Tell me a little bit about yourself? and What are your plans after college? are all questions I heard numerous times and could answer with confidence and poise thanks to AKPsi.by Brother Wilfredo Anderson